Thinking out loud…while wondering if 'gender neutral' toys mean we've lost our marbles?
· Just when I start listening to Daft Punk, they decide to retire. C'mon, man.
· The Patriots sent letters to their season ticket holders this week, telling them their deposits for next season aren't due until June.
· It was a smaht tactic, for sure, without knowing Gub'nah Baker's plans for returning to stadiums and arenas until Thursday. But how did the Commonwealth arrive at 12% capacity? Why not 11%? 13%? Or, what about 20-25% at an outdoor venue, supposedly safer because it's, well, outdoors?
· We have questions that don't get answered. Par for the course these days. Kinda like vaccine appointments that don't get made, either.
· At least there are no ticket price increases for 2021. Can you imagine?
· And if you think 12% is something to be giddy about, Texas and Texas A&M this week both said they expect NO limits to fans this fall. And those stadiums seat more than 100K.
· Not sure the Patriots' QB conundrum will be decided by the time stadiums open for business. The team probably already has an idea of what they'd like to do, however.
· The price tag just hasn't come down (enough) yet.
· Me? I'd support bringing in a veteran presence, even if only for a year, and then drafting a young one to groom. Easier said than done.
· But in a more perfect world, if you're telling me there's a chance that either Russell Wilson or DeShaun Watson could be had – well then. Back up the Brinks' truck.
· Which the Kraft's and Bill Belichick haven't done previously for any player.
· So don't get your hopes up.
· Vets that might stir the pot in Foxboro? Jimmy G – check. Marcus Mariota – maybe. Matt Ryan? Love Matty Ice, but doubtful.
· As for franchise tagging, don't expect the Patriots to turn to this mechanism to keep anyone around beyond their "value." Which means Joe Thuney is probably as good as gone.
· But if you really want to consider tagging a Patriot, I'd vouch for David Andrews as the lynchpin to the offensive line's success…now, and in the future.
· When does paying the least get you the most in return? When you're NBC, the current owners of the Sunday Night Football franchise.
· NFL ownership would like to have their new media rights deals in place by the start of the new season – which is March 17th. And while rates will undoubtedly rise for all network parties – expect NBC to get the biggest sticker-shock of 'em all.
· They'll be asked, more than likely, to double the current $950 million they pay annually for the most popular TV package out there.
· The network's SNF franchise has ranked as the No. 1 TV show in primetime for a record 10 years in a row. The pregame "Football Night in America" has reigned as the most-watched studio show for 15 straight years.
· NBC's 2015 telecast of Super Bowl XLIX (Patriots-Seahawks) was the most-watched show in U.S. TV history, averaging 114.4 million viewers.
· When you consider ESPN pays $2 billion for Monday Night Football, and CBS/Fox pay about $1 billion each for their Sunday games…perhaps you can see the inequity?
· Face it. NFL media rights' fees are staggering. And they continue to rise, even as ratings dip...which they did last year, by about 8%. But NFL games still accounted for the Top 5 most-watched television broadcasts of 2020.
· It's time to pony up, again.
· This economic phenomenon – Pro Football? As resilient and recession/pandemic-proof as any economic engine or business out there. Bend over and grab your ankles, Peacock Network.
· And invariably, that includes us too, Meat.
· My buddy "Big E" sez "Mrs. E" believes he is obsessed with March Madness. I told him, knowing them both as I do that surely, she was exaggerating. "E" told me, "I thought so too. I mean, if I were putting basketball before our marriage, would I be planning to take her out to a nice restaurant to celebrate our 10th season together, before tip-off?"
· Yeah. One shining moment.
· Are the Friars at a crossroad? Some would argue, based on my social media timelines, they've been waiting at this stop light for quite a while.
· And yet, Providence may have turned in its' best all-around performance of the season in waxing Xavier this week. As we've identified, it starts with defense.
· But it also includes fluidity and motion on offense, an effort in rebounding, and less dribbling – more passing. Hit those highlights, this team will be competitive over the next two weeks.
· What is it about the Big East? Right now, it is cannibalizing itself, potentially at the expense of earning dance invitations. But it also means those toward the middle and bottom of the pack can still beat some pretty good teams…which might be tournament-worthy in this year of uncertainty.
· And just how is this tournament going to work in Indianapolis this year? Ex-Friar assistant and former Bryant AD Dan Gavitt tries to answer the big questions on This Week in the Big East, as the NCAA's Vice President for Basketball. Plus, PC head coach Ed Cooley and Fox bracket-master Mike DeCourcy join us for some crunch-time discussion.
· You can find TWITBE locally on WPRO, on your favorite podcast provider, on westwoodonesports.com, bigeast.com or on Sirius 136, XM 201 and Online 964 Saturday at 11:00 am ET.
· If Covid rears its' head and forces a team into quarantine, undoubtedly adding to the Madness, the NCAA said this week teams will not be reseeded nor will brackets change once the tournament starts.
· But before it starts, if a one-bid league can't field a team due to Covid, they may replace the affected team with another representative. If it happens within a multi-bid league, it's next man up from the "First Four Out" list.
· Honestly, you know there will be some schools on the outside of the Big Dance not just thinking positive but hoping someone above them tests positive. That's where we are. Love for your fellow man, but on the floor…it's all war.
· And once the tournament starts, if a team can no longer play due to positive tests, their opponent automatically will advance. No replacements, no waiting it out. Doneski.
· Madness, you say? Crazy mad. Buckle up.
· ICYMI, Villanova's Collin Gillespie is a finalist for the Bob Cousy award as the nation's best point guard. When he's on his game, the Wildcats are a national title contender. When he's not, they're still pretty good.
· Two Big East players are finalists for the Karl Malone award as the nation's top (power) forward – Seton Hall's Sandro Mamukaleshvili and Villanova's Jeremiah Robinson-Earl. Both are first-round NBA talents.
· Is North Carolina's Roy Williams losing it? Scheduling Marquette for a late-season date in Chapel Hill this week is one thing, but to be d-e-s-t-r-o-y-e-d by the Golden Eagles, when you need a high-major win of your own for NCAA consideration, is just dumber than dumb.
· URI wraps up their regular season this weekend at Duquesne. Again. Been there, done that. But no one cares when you whine or when you've been dealt an unfair hand. It's an opportunity to go out and win a game – which the Rams need to do...heading into next week's moved-up A-10 tourney.
· Not sure we would have agreed on this premise before the season started, but is Bryant the local team in the best position to dance? Yup.
· A win against LIU this week has the Bulldogs already in the four-team NEC tournament that starts next week. Win that…and they grab dancing shoes for the first time in Division I.
· ICYMI, the postseason NIT appears to be a 'go.' But it will be reduced from 32 to 16 teams, and regular season conference champs will NOT receive auto bids. All games will be played at one site and reports this week mention New York, Dallas or Asheville, NC as possibilities.
· The CBI also looks to be playing, but possibly reduced from 16 to eight teams, and at a neutral site location. The CIT? A no go for 2021.
· Shucks, I know that'll crush your day.
· Speaking of days…Monday was National Margarita Day? And what brainiac decided NOT to have this day on a Friday? Or on the weekend? I mean, where's the law that sez National Margarita Day is on February 22nd?
· Wanna feel old? The "Miracle on Ice" turned 41 this week. It's still the one sporting event I smh over, because of its' amazing improbability at that time.
· Did you notice your neighborhood Walgreens has joined in the vaccination fun this week? Still can't get an appointment, and rapidly growing tired of giving out "A's" for effort to our politicos.
· Just git 'er done.
· Baseball is a mess. The minor leagues are slashed, jobs in the major leagues (non-playing) are being eliminated and big-league execs (like Seattle CEO Kevin Mather) are admitting collusion when it comes to young players and their big-league service time.
· Yeah, our national pastime is past its' time.
· I. Can't. Get. Into. The. Red. Sox. That is all.
· College baseball had to wait 340 days before starting up again this past week after the pandemic destroyed last season. Did you hear about the debut for one Florida Atlantic freshman player, Caleb Pendleton, with grand slams in his first two collegiate at-bats?
· 15 minutes apart, in the same inning? Dude, it's all downhill now. Enjoy your fifteen minutes.
· A sign of our times: Sportradar is a data provider to MLB, the NBA, NFL, NHL and NASCAR. And they're now offering a bet monitoring system, free of charge, that can detect match-fixing.
· I'm only mildly surprised match-fixing has yet to be an issue, what with the proliferation of sports gambling across the country. But it will be.
· The Nets and Knicks are welcoming back building capacities of up to 10%. NY teams are required to have fans produce a negative COVID PCR test result within 72 hours of attending a game, and the Nets are providing testing for their fans and including it in the ticket price.
· Wait, wut? Football with snow still on the ground? Love it.
· Wait, wut? Teachers need to go back into classrooms without being vaccinated? Hate it.
· Yo, Gub'nah Baker? And Governor McKee, too. YOU go and teach 'em without added protection, in buildings that haven't been inspected – much less cleaned or disinfected.
· I know of one office, in one school district, that has been riddled with Covid cases that have never been reported. And zero has been done to correct the problem(s). I can imagine they're not the only ones with similar issues.
· Loved the story in the NY Post this week that said The Undertaker supports "The Rock" for President in 2024.
· That's a WWE reference for those of you blissfully unaware.
· So, this begs the question: can Mark Callaway (aka "The Undertaker") actually "smell what the Rock is cookin'?"
· What I'd LOVE to see – is The Rock applying the 'People's Elbow' to a few key members of Congress or our state gub'ment when they need a little incentive to fall in line.
· According to financial records, Dwayne Johnson (aka "The Rock") was ranked as Hollywood's highest-paid actor the past two years – and he earned $87.5 million in 2020. The bankroll is there if, um, you know, he needs it.
· And he has the TV series "Young Rock" going on right now…so, don't be shocked if he throws his hat into the squared-circle political ring at some point. Some guy named Trump did that, too, flush with television exposure and experience. Just sayin'.
· Aaron Rodgers is hosting "Jeopardy?" Is this one of those 'kickin' the tires on a few retirement ideas," or is he serious?
· I'll take "You're no Alex Trebek" Aaron, for $200. But legend (and his fiancé) sez – he's a Jeopardy nerd. He'll be at the podium in April.
· Sure, it's a little morbid – but who else didn't immediately wonder if Tiger's accident this week had drugs or alcohol involved?
· Like many before him, Tiger Woods has matured both as a person and professional over the years. There is no doubt he is one of the greatest to have ever swung a golf club. But because of his past missteps, he's also remembered for those stumbles as well.
· Not for nuthin', but it seems some who are blessed with talent and ability above normal means are just cursed at the other end…almost like, this is the price you pay for your immortality. I get the feeling Tiger is one of those people.
· Here's hoping he heals quickly and continues to show his present-day maturity and sensibility from this point forward. There's a lot of talent in the sport these days, but golf is better with him in it.
· The NWHL is planning a re-start to its 2020-21 season in late March, with a championship weekend at Boston's Warrior Arena.
· Mr. Potato Head is now just "Potato Head?" That's some serious disrespect, right there. No Mrs. Potato Head, either? Now, that's just misogyny. C'mon, Hasbro. Stop playing games.
· A toy company, playing games. Wait. Wut?
· Interested in having your questions on local Rhode Island sports (and yes, that includes the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins and Celtics) answered in a somewhat timely fashion? It's your chance to "think out loud," so send your questions, comments and local stories to jrooke@weei.com. We'll share mailbag comments/Facebook posts/Tweets right here! Would appreciate the follow on Twitter, @JRbroadcaster…and join in on Facebook, www.facebook.com/john.rooke ...
Don't forget to tune into Providence's 103.7 FM, every Saturday from 7:00-9:00 am for Cordischi and Coit! Call in at 401-737-1287 or text at 37937.
